Who Really Chooses the Most Handsome Man in the World? Tc Candler vs Nubia Magazine Explained
By Alexander Ross
The power of TC Candler’s curation came into sharp focus in late 2021, when the platform named Burmese actor, model, and singer Paing Takhon the most handsome male face in the world. At the exact moment the video was released to millions of viewers, Takhon was sitting in an Insein Prison cell in Yangon, sentenced to three years of hard labor by Myanmar’s military junta for his vocal participation in street protests following the February 2021 coup d'état.
The choice sent shockwaves through international news outlets. TC Candler accompanied his announcement slide with an explicit call demanding his immediate release: "Free Paing Takhon." It marked a rare moment where an internet beauty list became entangled with international human rights advocacy.
Takhon, whose striking physique, classical jawline, and cascading hair had already made him a regional star across Southeast Asia, gained millions of Western supporters overnight. The placement demonstrated that TC Candler’s editorial committee was willing to make provocative statements that pure algorithmic voting pools could never produce on their own. While Takhon received a state pardon in early 2022 and resumed his entertainment career, his 2021 placement remains the list's most dramatic editorial intervention.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
